We believe that the need for weighing should be based on a proper risk analysis of the quality of the data transferred between shipping lines, shippers and customs authorities. Also, shippers would want to work with international organizations such as UNECE and industry stakeholders to identify the currently witnessed poor practices and developing best practices. Together, we can all promulgate these to those that handle and load containers.

We made the point that weighing each container is the ‘gold standard’, but the reality is that it cannot be achieved in every part of the world, and as long as the contents of the container and the container itself are accurately weighed by calibrated equipment, which is the responsibility of port state control in the particular country to ensure, it is a good compromise. ICHCA’s job now is to help with developing solutions for the industry. Although the onus is certainly on shippers, ultimately the one place where all containers pass through is the port of loading and I expect ports will be offering weighing services.